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Trump says he will not give State of the Union address until shutdown ends

Jan. 24 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said he will not give his State
of the Union address until the partial government shutdown is over.

The president's Wednesday night announcement follows House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, D-Calif., having said earlier in the day that she would not
invite Trump to the House chamber for his State of the Union address
until the government has reopened.

"I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not
consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President's State of
the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened," she
wrote to Trump.

A resolution must be passed by the House and the Senate to allow the president to speak in the House.
Trump initially responded to the letter telling reporters that he would
give the speech at another venue. But on Wednesday night, he said via
Twitter that he wasn't considering alternative locations and that he
would wait to give his address after the government reopens "because
there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and
importance of the House Chamber."

As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the
State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then changed her mind because
of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative - I
will do the Address when the Shutdown is over. I am not looking for
an....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019

"I look forward to giving a 'great' speech in the near future," he said.

....alternative venue for the SOTU Address because there is no venue
that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the
House Chamber. I look forward to giving a “great” State of the Union
Address in the near future!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019

Trump's decision ends a weeklong battle with Pelosi that began when she
asked the president to delay his speech or present it in writing, citing
security concerns caused by the government shutdown, which has impacted
the Department of Homeland Security, NBC News reported.

Trump and the Democrats have been at a standoff for over a month over
funding for a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border, resulting in the
longest government shutdown in American's history.https://www.geezgo.com/sps/52852